In my everyday live in United State, I always use Skype as free communication tool with my family in Indonesia. I could see that this can be used as powerful tool in my classroom especially in online class. Bellow are the possibilities of Skype as web 2.0 tool that I can use with my students in my blended learning class in Indonesia:
I can use Skype to have call conference with all my students or live chat with them synchronously.
Skype can be used also as free video conference tool between two person. In this case I can have one to one video conference with my student if when it is necessary.
This is also useful as file sharing tool that help me to send files to my students during the conference
The newest Skype version allow me to broadcast my own screen to my audience. Thus, I can use as live online presentation tool.
In face to face meeting, I can use Skype to have live video conference with an expert to give encouragement and increase learning experience in my class.
There are Skype mobile apps that we can use in most of mobile devices such as Iphone, blackberry, htc, etc. This can enhance flexibility in communication with my students
Pros
Cons
uses in classroom
It is easy to use and has good audio and video quality
require installation to personal computer. Many times
in low speed internet you may experience automatic disconnection. Thus, you have to make sure that you have enough bandwidth to run Skype. We also cannot do multiple video conference unless we pay.
video or audio conference tool
You can share your files and screen (broadcast your pc screen)
the transfer rate for files sharing is quite slow when you do it while you are having the video conference.
sharing/ collaboration tool between teacher and students or students and students
There are many kinds of video sharing tools and each of them has their own strength and weaknesses that we have to know. One of them that I would like to share with you is Vimeo. It is a video sharing tool that is similar to Youtube and other video sharing tools where we can create our own video, upload, and share them to vast majority of people in the internet. Here is the information about its pros and cons.
Pros
Cons
Uses in classroom
simple and easy to upload video and share. We can embed in a blog or website and allow downloading converted video.
It takes quite a long time until the video actually get posted (It depends on the length and size of the video. It can be more than one hour to be fully posted).
Students can create their own video share to the class easily. They also can learn about video production and editing.
We can control privacy and rules in sharing the video. It provide types of creative commons license that we can use. We can also allow people to download our video
Students will how to manage privacy and learn how to upload their video with creative common license. It is a good lesson for students.
Support HD video quality. There is no limitation of video length
takes long time to upload. It is limited to 500 megabytes
Students can create longer video for their project with good quality of video
This is an example of a video that I created and uploaded in vimeo.
Skype as web 2.0 tool
In my everyday live in United State, I always use Skype as free communication tool with my family in Indonesia. I could see that this can be used as powerful tool in my classroom especially in online class. Bellow are the possibilities of Skype as web 2.0 tool that I can use with my students in my blended learning class in Indonesia:
in low speed internet you may experience automatic disconnection. Thus, you have to make sure that you have enough bandwidth to run Skype. We also cannot do multiple video conference unless we pay.
Vimeo
There are many kinds of video sharing tools and each of them has their own strength and weaknesses that we have to know. One of them that I would like to share with you is Vimeo. It is a video sharing tool that is similar to Youtube and other video sharing tools where we can create our own video, upload, and share them to vast majority of people in the internet. Here is the information about its pros and cons.
Pros
Cons
Uses in classroom
This is an example of a video that I created and uploaded in vimeo.
Google Search Technique (using minus sign) from Stefanus Relmasira on Vimeo.